REPORT ON ZSBC OCTOBER 6, 2019 SEMINAR
Seminar Theme: ZARATHUSHTI ROOTS — ANCIENT AND MODERN
Report prepared by: FIRDOSH MEHTA — ZSBC Religion Education Committee
Those who attended the Third Seminar, and there were 42 (including Speakers) of us, held on Sunday, October 6, 2019 at the Arbab Rostam Guiv Dar-e-Mehr, Burnaby, BC, were treated to a day of knowledge, learning, social connectivity and shared experiences.
Organized by Rashna & Firdosh Mehta, under the flagship of ZSBC and sponsored by FEZANA & ZSO through the Jamshed Pavri Religion Education Fund, was a day well worth the experience. Firdosh and Rashna, organized a volunteer team of Pervin Buhariwala, Jasmine Bharucha, Aurash Yazdgerdian, Kayras Irani, Sanaya Master, Anahita Kaviani, Manochehr Dini, Percy Billimoria and Rohinton Unwalla, among others which not only catered to our intellectual rejuvenation, but also to our gastronomical enhancement with plenty of food and beverages during the break and a hot lunch of Indo-Persian Fusion Cuisine, during the course of the seminar, which ran from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Firdosh started the program by requesting Moobed Dr. Ardeshir Behi to offer a benediction. He then recognized the contributions of the Nirumvala Family of DELTA 4 Productions for donating the large screen to ZSBC. This was followed by a welcome address and announcement for sale of the 2020 Canadian Multifaith Calendars.
Attendees were informed of the complimentary hand out literature that was available. Firdosh introduced both learned speakers of the day.
The program started with the first presentation by Mr. K. E. EDULJEE
Topic: Beyond the Silk Roads – Zoroastrian-Aryan Presence & Influence in Mongolia, Turkistan, India & China
Continuing his 2017 presentation on the Silk Roads where primary focus was on the older western roads. This presentation focused on the eastern lands.
Did you know how many Fire Temples we had in just one Chinese city?
Is there a connection with the time and land of the terracotta warriors?
Could Ancient Iranian influence have spread to Japan and does evidence still exist in the Japanese Imperial palace?
Did one of our High Priests officiate in Mongolia & Turkistan?
What does the evidence from the Indus Valley tell us about the true story?
He welcomed us to join him in a magical journey.
The second presentation was made by Dr. ED SURMAN
Topic: On the Mazdayasnian Roots of Monotheism
In the 21st century more than half of the 7.5 billion people in the world belong to religions called monotheistic. The high numbers and geographic distribution of adherents increase the influence of these religions on global politics, economics, and communication.
The significance of this category in the modern world raises the question: “where did it come from?”
This lecture considered the origins of monotheism as a type of religion using the oldest example: the development of specific components of the ancient worship of Ahura Mazda seemed to have served as a template for the religions deemed monotheistic that followed.
After lunch the program continued with a discussion on community issues by a YOUNG ADULT ZARATHUSHTI PANEL of four local speakers.
SANAYA MASTER Empowering Future Leaders
KAYRAS IRANI Return Reconnect Revive: Zoroastrian Return To Roots
SHIRIN KIANI Zoroastrian values as a platform for… social movements !
DARIUS DHARSI Proposals for the Prosperity and Survival of the Zoroastrian Community in North America.
Moderated by MOOBED Dr. ARDESHIR BEHI, who also introduced the Speakers and their topics, followed by Question/Answers.
Speaker Appreciation followed with gifts presented by various members of the community to all the Speakers. All attendees were thanked for their participation.
The seminar ended with a “vote of thanks” to ZSBC, FEZANA, all the volunteers, both speakers, participants for such an interesting, informative and educational seminar, with expectations to continue this activity next year. Firdosh was thanked by our Education Director Jasmine Bhathena, with gift from ZSBC.
The direct link to the You-Tube video of the seminar is: https://youtu.be/-3XMuQxyHR8
Photos courtesy of Kayras Irani.
